The Chico State Wildcats’ baseball team won its first series of the season, winning three out of four games against the Western Oregon Wolves.

The Wildcats’ main goal was to get back on track after losing their first two series of the season.

The ’Cats did just that in convincing fashion.

The ’Cats’ first three games of the series ended with scores of 10-6, 10-1, and 5-4. They weren’t able to secure the series sweep in the final game, as the Wolves stole the series finale 4-1.

Game 1: 

The Wolves struck early against the ’Cats sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Seibert, putting up three runs in the first two innings. Led by first baseman and outfielder Tyler Mohlers’ sacrifice fly, the Wolves followed it up with an RBI single from infielder Benny Nazario and an RBI double from infielder Zane Garvey, making the score 3-0. 

The ’Cats got on board in the fifth inning when both sophomore utility Kobe Rolling and senior utility Keoni Coloma scored on the same wild pitch. 

Senior outfielder Stefan Foley followed suit with a single to left field, scoring junior infielder Michael Baker to tie the game at 3.

The ’Cats went on to score one run in each of the next three innings, as junior infielder  Brady Ranallo tallied an RBI walk and Baker scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the sixth inning, ending with the ’Cats leading 5-3. 

The ’Cats weren’t satisfied yet and scored again when sophomore infielder Brady Wright was hit by a pitch during the seventh inning. Freshman infielder Myles Cooper then singled to left, scoring two more runs before the inning ended with the ’Cats leading 8-3.

Even with a comfortable lead, the ’Cats didn’t cool off. They scored two more runs in the eighth inning when junior outfielder Ryan Melton doubled and senior Carson Case hit a sacrifice fly to center field, making the score 10-3.

The Wolves responded with three runs in the ninth inning, but could not close the gap and the ’Cats secured the win, 10-6.

Game 2:

After taking the opening game of the series, the ’Cats looked to keep their momentum for the second game, handing the ball to freshman right-handed pitcher Jack Tews. 

The ’Cats struck early again against the Wolves’ pitcher Shane Bailey, as sophomore catcher Jared Cantu singled up the middle to score Foley and Baker, jumping out to a  2-0 lead in the first inning.

The Wolves cut the ’Cats’ lead in half on a single by freshman infielder Alex Angevine in the fourth inning.

The small one-run lead didn’t last long, as the ’Cats scored five runs in the fourth inning.

Junior infielder Jaylen Hodges started the rally with a double to score Wright. Junior infielder Jackson Snitko added another run with a single to center, and Cantu notched two more RBI’s with a double down the right field line. Coloma crossed home plate on a fielder’s choice, and senior first baseman Jesse Gadd added another run on a walk.

 By the end of the fourth inning, the score had swelled to 7-1 in favor of the ‘Cats. 

The ’Cats weren’t done yet, adding on three more runs in the fifth inning. Capped by Snitko scoring on a throwing error, the ’Cats reached the 10-run mark again, as the game concluded in seven innings. 

Game 3:

Looking to secure their first series win of the season, the ’Cats turned to junior right-handed pitcher Thomas Meyer.

Neither team could get much momentum early, as Meyer and Wolves’ sophomore pitcher, Josh Johnson, had an outstanding pitching duel. 

In the sixth inning, the ’Cats were finally able to break the shutout with a Snitko single to score Baker, making the score 1-0. 

The ’Cats added two more runs in the seventh inning as Baker singled up the middle to make the score 3-0.

The Wolves fired back in the eighth inning and scored four runs, led by first basemen and outfielder Jason Olsen’s momentum-changing single. They ended the eighth inning in front 4-3, testing the ’Cats’ resilience.

Needing a run to tie the game, Wright led off the ninth inning with a walk and advanced to second on Rollings’ sacrifice bunt. 

Wright advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the ’Cats found themselves down to their last out. 

With the tying run on third base, Foley stepped up to the plate. Hoping for a base hit to tie the game, a wild pitch got away from the Wolves’ catcher and Wright scored to tie the game and send it into extra innings. 

Neither team was able to score in the tenth inning, and the game went on to the eleventh inning. 

The Wolves were held to zero in the top of the eleventh, and the ’Cats had yet another opportunity to clinch their first series victory of the season. 

The leadoff batter, Wright, struck out, but Rolling found himself on base after a fielding error by the Wolves’ first baseman. He advanced to second on a wild pitch as Cooper stepped up to the plate. 

With a full count, Cooper sent a ball to right field, which allowed Rolling to slide into home safely, winning the thrilling game and clinching the series for the ’Cats, 5-4.

Game 4:

Trying to end the series with a sweep, the ’Cats sent out junior right-hand-pitcher Tyler Eastham for the start.

The Wolves jumped on him early, striking first with a Mohler sacrifice fly to right field and a Harden single to make the score 2-0.

The ’Cats responded quickly with a run as Snitko grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Roberts and cut the lead to 2-1.

Both pitchers settled in, and neither team scored again until the seventh inning. 

The Wolves plated two more runs on a fielding error by Snitko and a bases-loaded walk, to make their lead 4-1.

The ’Cats couldn’t close the gap and dropped the final game of the series with a 4-1 loss.

Cantu collected four RBIs and was an important part of the ’Cats’ early offensive success in the series. He credited his success to his mindset and staying calm.

“The changes I’ve been making are kind of just not being too hard on myself, not stressing, just being more laid back, so I don’t put too much pressure on myself,” Cantu said. “When I’m up there, I’m just trying to have fun, just trying to help my team win.”

Cantu doesn’t consider his spectacular defense behind the plate to be a deciding factor in his offensive momentum.

“I think I always go out there and every time I catch, and just try to help the pitcher out as much as I can, regardless if I do bad on the play or not,” Cantu said. “I know I always do good behind the dish.”

Despite the optimism of winning the series, Cantu believes that the key to building on momentum is consistency.

“We just got to keep practicing, keep working hard,” Cantu said. “I think it’s important just to keep a good attitude and just keep pushing forward. Don’t let it affect us too much.”

Snikto was also a big part of the Wildcats’ series win, totaling five hits and three RBIs during the four-game series. Snitko credited his two-strike approach to his hitting success during the series.

“I feel like I’ve been able to see the ball really well. It’s not always gonna be easy,” Snitko said. “I’ve had a really good two-strike approach. I’ve been able to see pitches deep, spit on close pitches, and just be on time when the right pitch comes.”

Snitko mentioned that the team needed to change its offensive approach this week to secure the series win after losing the previous two.

“We’re trying to hit the ball, the ball doesn’t fly here,” Snitko said. “We just got to hit balls low, pick up our knocks when we can, then just move guys when we have the opportunity to, and just be aggressive early in the count.”

With the late schedule change due to weather, the ’Cats had to prepare for two doubleheaders in two days. Snitko praised the team for fighting through it.

“A lot of teams have been fighting illnesses this whole week. You knew it was gonna be hard,” Snitko said. “Everyone knew that we were gonna feel sore through the end of the week. It’s just about getting gritty and beyond that dirtbag mentality we have and just fighting through it and bearing down.”

Snitko also acknowledged the fatigue of playing four games in two days.

“Definitely some fatigue,” Snitko said. “We’ll take care of it the day off we get and then be ready to go against UCCS.”

The ’Cats begin another four-game series at Nettleton Stadium against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, starting on Friday at 2 p.m.

Nettleton Stadium grants free entry with a Chico State student ID card or a student’s Canvas home page.

For information about all Chico State athletics or to keep up with the game live, visit the Wildcat home page, or watch through FloSports.

 Jamison Leung can be reached at [email protected]